Pat Donnelly’s Limerick produced a powerful performance against an inexperienced Tipperary side to book a place in the semi-finals of the Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21 hurling championship.

In front of 3,076 spectators at the Gaelic Grounds, the Shannonsiders avenged last year’s defeat against their neighbours to justify a heavy pre-match favourites tag.

Limerick, littered with senior panellists, are favourites to win the provincial title and on this evidence, they’ll prove stiff opposition for Clare on July 12, and with home advantage.

All six of Limerick’s starting forwards were on target from play as Limerick marched on to the last four, seeing off a mini-Tipperary revival in the second half to win by 11 points.

Playing with the breeze in the first half, and with senior star Kyle Hayes excelling in a sweeper role, the supply of ball into the Limerick forwards was plentiful and of high quality.

Man-of-the-match Tom Morrissey was close to an early goal but he did find the back of the net in the sixth minute, bundling the ball home from close range at the second attempt after Tipp goalkeeper Brian Hogan performed heroics to keep out first Barry Nash and then Morrissey.

That goal helped Limerick to lead by 1-4 to 0-0, as Tipp, with some of their 2016 minor All-Ireland winners making their U21 debuts, struggled to settle into the game.

Mark Kehoe, one of Tipp’s bright sparks on the night, got them off the mark with an eleventh minute point before Billy McCarthy, one of just two senior panellists on the starting U21 team, cut the gap back to five.

But Limerick were just too good and kept the scoreboard ticking over, before senior ace Nash struck the second goal in the 16th minute, bursting clear of Kevin Hassett before beating Hogan from close range.

By half-time, Limerick were 2-12 to 0-8 clear but Tipp, with Ger Browne impressive, opened the second half with clear intent.

Eleven minutes in, Tipp had cut a ten-point half-time deficit back to just six but Limerick responded with six unanswered points to stretch the lead out to 12.

Aaron Gillane, another senior panellist with Limerick and leading scorer on the night, struck four points in a row during that purple patch to hand Donnelly’s young guns breathing space again.

From there until the finish, it was a procession for Limerick, as both managers emptied the bench. Tipp had excellent contributions from Browne, Kehoe and Brian McGrath, while Willie Connors started well, but Limerick had too much class and physicality on the night.

In many people’s eyes, this Limerick team could emulate the class of 2015 by going all the way to an All-Ireland title – and this was a good way to start.

The Limerick U21 management team of Pat Donnelly Manager (South Liberties), Mike Kiely (Coach/Selector)(Ballybrown), Brian Foley (Coach/Selector)(Adare), Maurice O’Brien (Coach/Selector)(Garryspillane) has released their match team and panel for their Thursday evening’s Munster U21 hurling championship quarter final clash with Tipperary. Pat Donnelly side are home in the Gaelic Grounds and with the throw in at 7.30pm supporters are asked to came early to the grounds. The following is the team and match panel.

The Tipperary team to play Limerick in the Bord Gais Energy Munster U21 Championship Quarter-Final in the Gaelic Grounds tomorrow evening, Thursday June 22nd at 7:30pm has been announced by manager William Maher.

It includes 6 of the side that started last years U21 Munster Final with one of those Andrew Coffey captaining the side, while 4 of the 2016 All-Ireland Minor winning team – Brian McGrath, Ger Browne, Mark Kehoe and Lyndon Fairbrother make their U21 championship debut.

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